In our Planning Delivery team we work hard to enable Central Bedfordshire to grow and thrive in a sustainable way. We want to make our area a great place to live and work, and somewhere companies choose to invest. As a Senior Planning Officer, you will play a big part in achieving this vision. With businesses and communities depending on your skills, you will find your greatness using your professional expertise in leading projects and managing major planning applications to achieve high quality developments.

Your role

You will be a skilled professional responsible for giving definitive advice for the Council. It’s a varied, challenging role where you’ll resolve complex issues; act as a witness in planning appeals and negotiate legal agreements. You’ll also manage a caseload of complexed and major planning applications and work across the full range of Planning disciplines. With everyone from Councillors to developers looking to you for specialist guidance, it’s vital that you understand and uphold best practice.

Your responsibilities

Acting as Case Officer for complex planning applications and appeals including residential and commercial developments

Taking a proactive project management approach to proposals from pre-application stage to delivery

Presenting and explaining applications to the Council’s Development Management Committee

Applying local and national policy to ensure developments create high quality and sustainable places

Presenting evidence in planning appeals

Your qualifications, skills and experience

You will have a degree (or equivalent) in Town Planning, be a member of the Royal Town Planning institute and will have handled a wide range of planning applications whilst working in a local authority.

With good political and commercial awareness, and strong communication skills, you will have a gift for influencing others and leading partnerships and be committed to evidence-based decision making.

Your benefits

Membership of the competitive Local Government Pension Scheme from day one, agile working (plus laptop and smartphone), generous Flexitime scheme offering up to an additional 12 days leave per annum, relocation package (subject to eligibility), and many other staff discounts. A full overview of benefits on offer is included in the Recruitment Pack.

There are excellent opportunities for career progression within Central Bedfordshire Council. We are a recognised RTPI Learning Partner, demonstrating our commitment to the training and development of our staff.

Join us, and take advantage of a generous rewards package, agile working and the chance of continuous professional development. Find your greatness playing your part in our area’s growth.

Central Bedfordshire Council has its own vision and values that are integral to everything we do. Our area vision is to make Central Bedfordshire 'A great place to live and work’.

Central Bedfordshire Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome enquiries from everyone and value diversity in the workplace. We are a Disability Confident employer, we are working to become a Disability Confident leader in our community.